A train has derailed in Taiwan's north-eastern county of Yilan, near Taipei, killing at least 17 and injuring some 30 others, Taiwanese media reported on Sunday (Oct 21).

The train, Puyuma Express 6432, went off the tracks between the Dongshan and Suxin stations at about 5pm, the semi-official Central News Agency and mass-circulation United Daily News reported. They said at least 17 people were killed, and about 30 are hurt.

An estimated 30 to 40 passengers remain trapped in the train, which was travelling from Taipei's Shulin station to the eastern coastal county of Taitung with 310 people onboard, the reports said.

Photographs posted on social media show five out of the train's eight carriages lie helter-skelter near the tracks at the accident site. Some are lying on their sides.

Scores of medics and firefighters despatched to the scene are rushing to take those injured to hospitals and rescue passengers still in the carriages.

This story is developing.

Topics:

TAIWAN

ACCIDENTS

Branded Content

We have been experiencing some problems with subscriber log-ins and apologise for the inconvenience caused. Until we resolve the issues, subscribers need not log in to access ST Digital articles. But a log-in is still required for our PDFs.